Adjustable tent-pole.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

A. BURTON. ADJUSTABLE TENT POLE.

APPLICATION FILED 8EPT.20,1904.

ALFRED BURMA! UNITED srA r s PATENT OFFICE.

ADJUSTABLE TENT-POLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed September 20, 1904. Serial No. 225,184.

10 (r /Z whom it- 7IbCLZ/ concern:

Be it known that LALFRED BURTON, clerk, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Harmony, Sunnyside, Pretoria, in the Colony of the Transvaal, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Tent-Poles, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tent-pole whose length may be readily adjusted to compensate for contraction or expansion of the tent fabric, and thereby maintain all parts of the tent at the requisite degree of tension, such compensation being effected from inside the tent instead of by means of the outside guys, as is at present the usual practice. Thus not only does the device add to the comfort of the tent occupant by enabling him to trim the tent during inclement weather whenv adjustment is most commonly needed without exposing himself, but the process of adjustment by being facilitated is likely to be effected as frequently as may be necessary, thus obviating injurious strains being set up in the fabric.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one form of the invention.

The pole is divided into two sections a and l), which may conveniently be made equal in length and whose ends are protected by the usual ferrules c c. The lower section b is crowned by a metallic nut (Z, secured inside the ferrule by screws 6, through which nut works a long spindle screw-threaded on its lower part f, the pole being bored, as at g, to accommodate the spindle when screwed home. The opposite end f of the spindle is cylindrical and plain and fits snugly into a hole lz, bored up into the section a of the pole, a suitable bearing, such as the hardened-steel cone 2', being interposed between the end of the spindle and the bottom of the hole 72. By making one end of the spindle plain the construction is cheaper and the frictional resistance to turning is decreased. Furthermore, the upper section of the pole may be readily slipped over the spindle and removed there- :from. Between the threaded and plain parts the spindle is made prismatic, as atf to receive the contrivance for turning it, which may be an ordinary spanner, but is preferably the small capstan illustrated. Such a capstan consists of a hub or boss 7', internally fitting the prism f, to which several arms 1; l." are so pivoted that they may stand out horizontally, as it, in which case they form convenient pegs on which to hang clothing and the like, or they may be stowed vertically out of the way, like It, small springs, such as Z, being fitted, if required, to retain them in the upright position. Instead of the spindle and capstanhub being prismatic they maybe circular, the latter being fixed to the former by a set-screw.

In operating the invention the lower section I) is grasped by one hand to prevent its turning while the spindle is screwed up or down, as may be required. For transport purposes the spindle is screwed home into section I) and the top section and the capstan are lifted from it. The length of the two main parts being now about half the erected length of the pole, the whole may readily be packed into a small compass, thus facilitating its conveyance.

I claim as my invention 1. A tentpole comprising two members or sections each having a socket at its end, one of said sockets having a screw-threaded portion, a spindle having screw-threads at one end and adapted to cooperate with the screw-threaded socket, the other end of the spindle being plain and being adapted to be inserted in the other socket, a bearing at the base of said socket cooperating with the end of the spindle, said spindle having at least one arm for rotating the spindle to increase or decrease the effective lengths of the pole as required.

2. A tent-pole comprising two members or sections, each having a socket in itsend, one of said sockets having a screw-threaded portion, a spindle having screw-threads at one end adapted to cooperate with the screwthreaded socket, the other end of the spindle being plain and being adapted to be inserted in the other socket, a conical bearing at the base of said socket, cooperating with the end of the spindle, said spindle having an angular portion and means adapted to cooperate with said angular portion for rotating the spindle to increase or decrease the effective lengths of the pole as required.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED BURTON l/Vitnesses:

HUGH \VILFRED GOVE, DAVID GUNN. 

